Easter Seals releases "Living with Disabilities" study

From Easter Seals:

“I constantly worry about our son and what his future holds, and how he will fare after we die.”

Our Living With Disability Study paints a startling picture of the life-long challenges surrounding everyday life and future concerns for parents of adult children with disabilities and adults with disabilities.

Easter Seals announced the results of the study via a webcast available here. Watch the video and hear from actor Joe Mantegna, from the popular TV show Criminal Minds and father of an adult daughter with autism, talk about what autism means to his family.

Many parents worry their adult children’s basic needs for employment, housing, transportation, social interactions, recreation, healthcare and financial security will not be met:

-- Only 11% of parents of adult children with disabilities report their child is employed full time.

-- Just 6 in 10 parents of adult children with a disability rate their child’s quality of life as excellent or good (61%), compared to 8 in 10 parents of adults without a disability (82%).

-- Huge gaps exist in parents of adults with disabilities’ assessment of their child’s ability to manage their own finances (34% vs. 82% parents of adults without disabilities) and have the life skills necessary to live independently (30% vs. 83% parents of adults without disabilities).

-- Nearly 7 in 10 adults with disabilities (69%) live with their parent(s) or guardian; only 17% live independently compared to more than half of adult children without disabilities (51%).

Easter Seals will use these findings to raise awareness of and advocate for the life-long services families desperately need—working to lessen these disparities and bridge the gap for the many people living with developmental disabilities.